EARTH DAY REMEMBERED

Next Friday, April 22nd., is Earth Day.  It is a day for us to consider our environment and the effect each of us has on our environment.  You may remember that Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. Its goal was (and still is) to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful world. Considering the Middle East wars, the BP oil debacle and the nuclear mess in Japan we are not doing well.  Forty-one years ago on April 22, 1970 I was working for the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services as a Special Education Teacher at the Maryland Training School for Boys. The "boys" were predominately inner city teenagers one offense away from the adult criminal justice system. School was not a particularly high priority in their lives and the challenge was to get the them engaged and keep them engaged with the limited resources available in the training school environment. My challenge was very similar to what most teachers face every day in this country's public school classrooms.

The Maryland Training School for Boys was located in a beautiful rural area of Baltimore County known as Cub Hill. With its Spanish style architecture and well kept lawns it gave the appearance of a very exclusive private school. It was the appearance of the students who quickly dispelled that first impression. As soon as one saw the predominately young black men all dressed in ill fitting, army surplus WWII wool uniforms you immediately knew that this was not a college prep school.

Whereas most of the staff appreciated and enjoyed the rural setting, the inner city boys were out of their element and some were absolutely terrified of the surrounding forests and woodlands. They truly believed there might be lions and tigers and bears lurking. This fear of the unfamiliar made the need of perimeter security fencing unnecessary as the boys would never think of running or going AWOL into those unfamiliar and scary surroundings. As a teacher I wanted to have my students participate in this first Earth Day; but realized that I would be limited by a host of circumstances. However; like others on the school's staff; that is,  being young, somewhat of a maverick and usually thinking and acting outside the box I had an idea -- we would make and fly kites in the great outdoors and celebrate Earth Day !

Purchasing wooden hobby sticks, newspaper, kite string and glue the boys began making their kites. Most had never flown, to say nothing of actually making a kite. There was initial disappointment in that the Elmer's glue was not the kind of glue they could sniff and get high; but making kites was a break from the routine. Eventually the kites were made and we were ready for Earth Day. Unfortunately, I did not clear or even think I had to clear this activity with administration. Big mistake.

April 22, 1970 turned out to be a beautiful, bright sunny day with a slight breeze. It was to be a perfect day for kite flying. To my surprise the boys were actually quite excited about flying their kites and after a brief lesson (remember, I was a teacher) on the art of launching and flying a kite we headed outside. Within minutes there were about twenty boys running around the grounds, some successful and others unsuccessful in launching their kites.  It was a remarkable site. However; the  office staff and others around the campus only saw boys running .... running away? Alarm and concern spread. The Superintendent was notified. My principal and Vice-Principal were alerted. Security was called. Once all the concerned adults saw the kites and realized that this was not The Great Escape, smiles reluctantly  appeared.  Later that day I was cautioned to channel my energies and the boys' into more classroom appropriate activities. Not everyone understood the concept of a creative activity.

Today like many other communities Bainbridge Island celebrates Earth Day and focuses its attention on conservation, sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint -- all laudable goals. Forty-one years ago I just wanted some inner city kids to have some fun and leave their footprints on the well tended lawns while flying their kites. On that first Earth Day those inner city delinquent boys had a healthy and peaceful experience as the ran with their kites enjoying the cool breeze, soft green grass and bright sunshine. There were no lions and tiger and bears and there was no Great Escape ... just healthy fun.

Jonathan Alter's Reply

Ronneburger, Julie [Julie.Ronneburger@newsweek.com]

on behalf of; Web Editors[Web.Editors@newsweek.com
Please see Mr. Alter's response below

"i totally agree. i'm for parent contracts to make them more accountable too....but the lack of accountability by teachers is the most glaring right now, and one the unions must grapply with... best- Jonathan Alter"

My response:

Mr. Alter:

Thanks for your response. I am glad to read that you see the importance of parent responsibility. However; I remain puzzled by your focus on the "lack of accountability by teachers". What exactly do you want teachers to be responsible for and how do you see the unions as dealing with this?

The problems that I encountered as a classroom teacher were many. I had no problems with course content and as a result of my Jesuit education I likewise had no difficulty with classroom management. However; student absenteeism, parental indifference and students' refusal to complete homework assignments were real problems. We have far too many students in our classrooms whose parents lack the skills to be parents and as a result their feral children cause problems.

I would assume that you believe there are far too many incompetent or ineffective teachers in the classroom. In my years of teaching I only encountered a few and they did not last. I believe the real problem is that new teachers do not receive appropriate support and assistance. For them it is like being thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool and told to swim ... but in their case to teach, manage and control. Remember for the vast majority of teachers when the bell rings and the door is closed it is a one person show.

In the event that there is a person teaching who should not be teaching school administrators have the process to document, meet and confer, and if needed dismiss. However; far too many administrators have attained freedom from the classroom and are loathe to return to observe, evaluate and offer assistance. The union's role in any process is to see that the process is followed correctly and a teacher's due process rights are followed.

The problems facing the American education system are many and to focus on one and only one aspect will achieve nothing. As we have achieved little in the problem areas of drugs, crime and poverty we will continue to flounder with education. We have no focus, no agenda, no plan, and little leadership.

Jonathan Alter's Newsweek Article

Jonathan Alter's recent denunciation of the American education system and his attack on teachers is both inaccurate and misleading. He has identified teachers as both the subject and object of accountability. He wants teachers removed from the classroom when they fail and and rewarded when students succeed. What is so blatantly and glaringly missing from this article is any recognition and expectation of accountability from both students and their parents.

It is easy and convenient to blame the failures of the education system on the teachers' unions. However; having been a teacher for almost 40 years ( I am now retired) most teachers recognize both the NEA and the AFT as little more than paper tigers. Both the judicial and the legislative branches of government must also take responsibility for conditions in our schools. If the teaching profession is as safe, secure and comfortable as Mr. Alter would have us believe then why are we facing a teacher shortage in the hundreds of thousands?

If accountability is to be the new battle cry then let's make it universal. Both parents and students must be held accountable for attendance, attire, attitude, behavior, and homework. Attending school and being successful is serious business and far too many parents and students have forgotten this fact. It is no surprise that some charter schools and most private schools are successful. Their success is not just the result of excellent teachers and excellent teaching; but the result of responsible and involved parents and well disciplined and motivated students.

If the American education system is to improve and succeed then all involved in the system must be held accountable --- not just the teacher in the classroom.

Big Russ & Me

Big Russ & Me

Several months ago I purchased Tim Russert’s book about his father, Big Russ & Me. Like many similar purchases I had plans to read it; but not immediately. Mr. Russert’s (little Russ) sudden death last month changed all that. During a planned trip to Baltimore to visit my 84 year old father I read this wonderful book.

Having a dad who fought and was injured in WW II, having attended a Catholic grade school (St. Rita in Dundalk, Md.) and having attended both a Jesuit high school (Loyola) and college (again Loyola) I could identify with many of Mr. Russert’s growing up experiences. If you have ever had a close encounter with a Jesuit Prefect of Discipline and been given time in “jug” then you will not only appreciate ; but thoroughly enjoy this book.

A quick look at the chapter headings will convince you that if you are a baby boomer you will enjoy this book. With chapters titled: Respect, Work, Baseball, Discipline, 1968, Politics and more you will relive your childhood in these pages.

In the chapter titled Respect you will read: “After supper, nobody had to remind us to do our homework; it was part of our daily routine and we just did it.” Mr. Russert continues: “This may sound hard to believe , but when my sisters and I were in school, homework was something that children did all by themselves.” Additionally Mr. Russert states: “ Self-esteem wasn’t something you started out with; it was a feeling that you earned through hard work.”

In the chapter titled Discipline Mr. Russert recounts the words of warning of the Prefect of Discipline at Canisius High School: “You must be at school on time. If you don’t have an alarm clock, ask your parents to get you one. With punctuality, as with everything else at this school, you will be held responsible for your actions. Getting here on time is not your parents’ responsibility. That is your job. There is one excuse that I will absolutely not tolerate, and that is, ‘My mother didn’t get me up on time’.”

In this chapter Mr. Russert also makes a very timely and telling observation: “ It’s important to have high expectations of children and young people, and it’s equally important to give teachers the authority they need to impose discipline and teach accountability. In this respect, I believe that parents of my generation have often failed our kids. We are so eager to be understanding and sympathetic, that we end up being too lenient, even as we further undermine the already diminished authority of teachers, coaches and administrators”.

In 2006 Mr. Russert wrote Wisdom of Our Fathers --- if it is half as good as Big Russ & Me then it will be well worth reading.